Thursday, September 15, 2016

Catholic Church hits back over 'opt out of religion' call for pupils

HUMANISTS should set up their own schools in Scotland rather than
seeking to change the way existing establishments are run, the Catholic
Church has said.

The suggestion comes after the Humanist Society Scotland launched a
legal challenge to give pupils the right to opt out of religious
observance.

The HSS is seeking a judicial review at the Court of Session in
Edinburgh after the Scottish Government rejected calls for a change to
the current rules which permit only parents to opt out on their
children’s behalf.

The action follows a recent review by the United Nations Children’s
Rights Committee which recommended the parental right to opt out of
religious observance should be extended to young people.

A spokesman for the Catholic Church said: “The church supports wider
forms of denominational provision where there is public demand and where
the management and regulation of such schools is in accord with
national guidance and practice. At present, schools in the state sector
do not reflect the plurality of beliefs in society.Although only a very small number of Scots adhere to a secular
humanist belief system that should not disbar them from seeking to have
their children educated in accordance with their beliefs. If demand exists and secular humanist schools, were to be managed and
regulated in accordance with national guidance and practice, as
Catholic schools are, there is no reason why they could not be
established."

Rev Dr Richard Frazer, convener of the Church of Scotland's church and
society council, said faith continued to play a significant part in the
lives of a great many people.

He added: "The idea of a Time for Reflection in schools is something
we support. Such moments do not seek to indoctrinate or give preference
to one faith tradition, but instead enable shared reflection and a
deepening of our understanding of the rich range of spiritual and
secular traditions held within our society."

In Scotland, all young people require parental permission to opt out
of religious observance, unlike England and Wales where sixth form
pupils – typically aged between 16 and 18 – have the right to opt out.

A Scottish Government spokesman said religious and moral education
enables children to “explore, debate and, more importantly, understand”
the world’s major religions “as well as approaches to living independent
of belief”.

He added: “Religious observance is a whole-school activity which
should be sensitive to traditions and origins, and should seek to
reflect these but it must equally be sensitive to individual beliefs,
whether these come from a faith or non-faith perspective.”

In its report, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child stresses
its concern children in Scotland do not have the right to withdraw from
“collective worship without parental permission”.

It concluded: “The committee recommends the state party repeal legal
provisions for compulsory attendance at collective worship in publicly
funded schools and ensure that children can independently exercise the
right to withdraw from religious worship at school.”